Wayland celebrates spring commencement

By JONATHAN PETTY Wayland Baptist University

Published
12:15 pm CDT, Saturday, May 10, 2014

Jonathan Petty/Wayland Baptist UniversityJimmy Lu, a management and marketing major from Vancouver, Canada, and Vuong Phuong, an accounting major from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, line up for the processional prior to graduation ceremonies on Saturday afternoon. Both received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. less

Jonathan Petty/Wayland Baptist UniversityJimmy Lu, a management and marketing major from Vancouver, Canada, and Vuong Phuong, an accounting major from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, line up for the processional prior to ... more

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Jonathan Petty/Wayland Baptist UniversityJimmy Lu, a management and marketing major from Vancouver, Canada, and Vuong Phuong, an accounting major from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, line up for the processional prior to graduation ceremonies on Saturday afternoon. Both received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. less

Jonathan Petty/Wayland Baptist UniversityJimmy Lu, a management and marketing major from Vancouver, Canada, and Vuong Phuong, an accounting major from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, line up for the processional prior to ... more

Aubrey Pedigo, a graduating senior from Canyon and the 2014 winner of the Female Citizen of the Year Award, gave the student address, challenging her classmates to embrace those who love them, pray for their fellow graduates, smile, and trust in God, submitting to His will and future plans for their lives.

“Who are you now?” Pedigo asked. “Don’t worry about reaching to check off your next goal point right away on your big-girl or big-boy list. Just take the time and enjoy the ride of getting to grow.”

Wayland President Dr. Paul Armes gave graduates a three-point charge.

First, he said don’t look at graduation as an ending, but rather a beginning. He challenged students to continue to learn and to grow, saying there is no way college professors can teach them everything they will need to know. Hopefully, however, graduates will have the skills and knowledge they need to foster a desire to learn Mo.re.

Secondly, Armes told students not to underestimate their power to change to world. Each person’s gifts, when given to God, can accomplish many things.

“I hope you’ll give the gift of your life and its skills, and its talents, and now its knowledge to our Lord,” he said, “understanding that he will use you in ways you never dreamed possible.”

Armes completed his challenge telling students to never stop seeking the will of God for their lives.

“What do you see as God’s dream for your life?” Armes said. “As that linkage occurs — your dreams and God’s dreams — as they merge into one, a road map emerges and you feel on your heart and on your life, the touch of God’s hand as he guides you and empowers you, and as he helps you to know not only where you need to go, but also what you are supposed to do once you get there.